Mark Fish has been overlooked despite stating his availability

The squad is set to travel to north Africa to play Egypt in Cairo on 15 November and will then face Tunisia in Tunis four days later in preparation for next January's Nations Cup finals.

Mashaba continues to side-step questions over the future of both Fish and Fortune, but their omission seems to signal the end of their chances of making the 22-man squad for Tunisia 2004.

The Bafana Bafana coach says he is unaware that Fish has declared his availability for the Nations Cup finals - even though the defender's quotes have been widely covered in the South African media in recent days - and Mashaba has simply refused to discuss Fortune altogether.

The Manchester United midfielder has not played for South Africa ever since Mashaba accused him of being 'unpatriotic' for claiming to be injured ahead of a friendly against Jamaica in April and then playing for his English Premiership club the day after his sick-note arrived at SAFA headquarters.

Fortune has told South African newspapers he would be glad to miss the tournament in Tunisia early next year so that he can concentrate on keeping his place in the English champions' first-team.

Mashaba already has to do without Shaun Bartlett, after the Charlton Athletic striker announced his retirement from international football earlier this month.

The South Africa squad:

Goalkeepers: Andre Arendse (Mamelodi Sundowns), Emile Baron (Lillestrom, Norway)

Defenders: Tony Coyle (FC Rostov, Russia), David Kannemeyer (Kaizer Chiefs), Jacob Lekgetho (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Mbulelo Mabizela (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Sphiwe Mkhonza (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Aaron Mokoena (Racing Gent, Belgium), Thabang Molefe (Le Mans, France)

Midfielders: Delron Buckley (VfL Bochum, Germany), Benson Mhlongo (Wits University), Tebeho Mokoena (Jomo Cosmos), John Moshoeu (Kaizer Chiefs), Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Jabu Pule (Kaizer Chiefs), MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Japhet Zwane (FC Rostov, Russia)

Strikers: Patrick Mayo (Kaizer Chiefs), Benni McCarthy (FC Porto, Portugal), Siyabonga Nomvete (Udinese, Italy), Nkosinathi Nhleko (Dallas Burn, USA), Sibusiso Zuma (FC Copenhagen, Denmark).